A518: Safety Cameras

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions since 20 July have safety cameras been deployed on the A518 between Weston-upon-Trent and Uttoxeter in Staffordshire during (a) the week; and (b) the weekend.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The department does not record or keep this information centrally. Further detailed information will be available directly from the partnership which can be contacted via its website at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/cameralifesavers.

A55/North Wales: HGV Drivers

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many drivers of heavy goods vehicles using the A55 in North Wales have been found (a) by the police; and (b) by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to be exceeding drivers' hours regulations in August, September and October of this year.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The North Wales Police confirm they found 32 HGV drivers using the A55 in North Wales to be exceeding drivers' hours regulations between August and October 2005. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) issued prohibitions to 16 drivers in August, 117 in September and 33 in October 2005 for exceeding drivers' hours regulations who may have used or be intending to use the A55 in North Wales.

Avian Flu: Wild Bird Imports

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a partial, state-based ban on wild bird imports is sufficient to guard against an avian flu pandemic in the United Kingdom, given the trans-national migratory routes of wild birds.

Lord Bach: The risk assessment that we have carried out on the spread of the avian influenza virus indicates that there is a high risk that the geographical spread will continue, given the recent detections of the virus in various geographical areas since May 2005. At this time there is no pandemic of avian influenza.
	On 25 October 2005 the EU agreed to introduce an extensive ban on imports into the Community of captive birds, along with new restrictions on the importation of pet birds. We are monitoring the situation closely and with the EU will review these restrictions in November. We have also stepped up work on surveillance, biosecurity and emergency preparedness.

Bloody Sunday Inquiry

Lord Mayhew of Twysden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to receive the report of the Bloody Sunday inquiry; and
	In what month of what year they expect to reply to the Question for Written Answer (HL1591), tabled on 10 October by the Lord Mayhew of Twysden, relating to when they expect to receive the report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

Lord Rooker: I am sorry for the delay in replying.
	The independent Bloody Sunday inquiry has informed me that it is now engaged in compiling its final report. Due to the vast amount of evidence that must be considered this is a very time-consuming process and it is difficult at this stage to be precise about when the report will be presented to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Crossrail: Funding

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is still the case that they will not provide a funding plan for Crossrail until the publication of the Lyons Report on local government funding is published; and when this is now expected to take place.

Lord Davies of Oldham: I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 10 October 2005 Official Report, Col. WA 18.

Daily Ireland: Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House any business cases received as a result of their funding of Daily Ireland.

Lord Rooker: Daily Ireland's business case for funding under InterTradelreland's ACUMEN Programme includes information provided by the applicant on a commercial in confidence basis. I am therefore unable to place a copy of the business case in the Library.

Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they are doing to support the work of institutions such as the "Drugs for Neglected Disease" initiative; and what funds have been committed to support the strengthening of capacities and the development of new tools within disease-endemic countries.

Lord Rooker: DfID does not directly support the work of the "Drugs for Neglected Diseases" initiative. However, we support similar research towards developing new drugs for neglected diseases through support for the World Health Organisation (WHO) joint special programme, Tropical Diseases Research, and also through our recently announced renewed and increased support for the Medicines for Malaria Venture (£10 million over the next five years).
	To support the strengthening of capacity and the development of new approaches in disease-endemic countries, DfID has committed £10 million towards new health research to be based initially in Malawi and Kenya, the details of which are currently under development with the Wellcome Trust, which matched this financial commitment.

EU: Live Bird Imports

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have the power to require live birds imported from European Union member states to be quarantined.

Lord Bach: The movement of birds within the EU is controlled by Community rules which do not require birds to be quarantined. However, the UK's salmonella controls require all fowl species (for example chicken, ducks and turkeys) arriving in the UK from other member states to be isolated for at least 112 days after arrival. The movement of pet birds between EU member states is not covered by EU legislation. Under the Importation of Birds, Poultry and Hatching Eggs Order 1979 we require pet birds to be isolated at their domestic premises for 35 days following import. During this period the birds are subjected to two veterinary inspections.

Government Printing

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have considered producing all departmental and similar publications using the waterless offset process, which uses inks on chlorine-free paper and 75 per cent post consumer waste.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Guidance issued to departments by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, How to Publish a Command Paper makes clear that paper to be used for the printing of all departmental reports should comply with the Government's sustainable procurement "quick wins" agenda. This states that "coated papers must contain a minimum of 60 per cent recycled fibre and uncoated papers 100 per cent recycled fibre". Recycled papers can be selected from a list which complies with the terms of the Government's recycled printed papers framework arrangement let by the Department for Transport and operated by the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions. These papers comprise at least 75 per cent recycled fibre for coated and 100 per cent for uncoated.
	All lithographic printing processes can use the type of paper quoted.
	The printing industry uses many toxic substances in all stages of the process, but the chief pollutant is IPA (isopropanol alcohol) widely used in the fount solution on presses. IPA is the major source of the industry's volatile organic compounds emissions. While waterless is beneficial for this problem, other forms of litho have greatly decreased the use of IPA and in some cases totally eradicated it.
	Waterless printing is an offset lithographic printing process that eliminates the water or dampening systems used in conventional printing. It has a number of technical problems, particularly relating to the quality of the silicone rubber coated printing plates which often need to be re-made. The resultant waste and expense has therefore led to a low take-up within the printing industry thus limiting the ability of departments to secure delivery to tight timescales whilst costs would almost certainly be higher.

Government Services: Electronic Delivery

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they propose to take to promote public engagement with government e-services in light of the recently published Eurostat figures indicating that the United Kingdom is at, or near, the bottom in all aspects of interaction with public authorities via the internet.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government are committed to transforming and modernising services, and maximising the potential benefits of new technology to focus delivery around the user. Further details of our approach can be found in the recently launched Transformational Government strategy (Cm 6683). The Government have already succeeded in effecting a major change in the delivery of services through electronic channels; 96 per cent of services are forecast to be electronically enabled by March 2006.

Grenada: Aid

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which domestic priorities of the government of Grenada are supported by aid from other governments; and what action they are taking to provide such assistance.

Baroness Amos: In November 2004, following the large-scale destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan, the government of Granada convened an international donors' conference at which they identified the following priority areas for reconstruction support: housing, the repair and rebuilding of schools, reactivation of the agricultural and tourism sectors and reforestation.
	The UK provided approximately £7.1 million to Grenada in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. Of this amount, £900,000 was spent on immediate humanitarian assistance through NGOs and regional organisations, with the remaining £700,000 reflecting the UK's share of European humanitarian assistance. A further £5.5 million was provided as emergency financial assistance to help the government of Grenada meet their wage bill for the last quarter of 2004.
	In response to the Government's appeal, a number of Grenada's international development partners committed £45.4 million in new funding and reallocated £28 million from their existing programmes. These partners include the governments of the United States and Canada, and multilateral organisations such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Union, and their contributions are captured in the table below. Other support for Grenada's reconstruction efforts has come from France, the Republic of Taiwan and Venezuela. Recent World Bank estimates of disbursement levels against these commitments show that donors have to date disbursed approximately £31 million to finance the reconstruction programme. Most of this has gone to the key sectors highlighted by the Government of Grenada last November, and significant progress has been made, particularly in the education sector.
	
		Grenada: Reconstruction Support (30 September 2005)
		
			 Government/Institutions Total Reallocated and New Funds£'000s 
			 Caribbean Development Bank 20,522 
			 Canadian International DevelopmentAgency 2,526 
			 UK Department for InternationalDevelopment 6,405 
			 European Union 6,888 
			 United Nations Food and AgricultureOrganisation 225 
			 Organisation of American States 152 
			 United Nations Development Programme 583 
			 United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment 24,814 
			 World Bank 11,227 
			 Inter-American Development Bank 5,613 
			 Total 78,953 
		
	
	This is a table based on World Bank figures and converted at an exchange rate of £1: $1.78144 on 28 October 2005.

Highway Safety Cameras

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the decision to install safety cameras on highways rests with the local highway authority; and, if not, with which body.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Proposals to install safety cameras within the National Safety Camera Programme are made by Safety Camera Partnerships, formed of police, highways authorities, the courts and other stakeholders, in their annual operational case which forms part of the strict criteria that enable partnerships to reclaim expenditure from fine revenue. Cameras can be deployed only after the local highway authority has confirmed that no other cost-effective environmental or engineering solutions can be implemented to improve road safety. Approval of partnerships' operational cases rests with the Department for Transport. Police authorities continue to have the ability to install safety cameras, independent of the National Safety Camera Programme, but in such cases cannot reclaim the expenditure from fine revenue.

Lloyd's Names: Correspondence

Lord Jenkin of Roding: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish in the Official Report the two letters sent to the Lord Jenkin of Roding by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury dated 31 October and 9 October 2005 about the application of the provisions of the Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) (Lloyd's) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1998) to Names and ex-Lloyd's Names; and whether they will place copies in the Library of the House.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: I have asked the Editor to publish in the Official Report the letters which the Economic Secretary sent to the noble Lord on 31 October and 9 November. The letters have also been placed in the Library of the House.
	Letter from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin of Roding, dated 31 October 2005
	Thank you for coming to meet Lord McKenzie and me on 19 October. I thought it was a very constructive and helpful meeting and I trust you feel likewise. I agreed to set out in writing to you several points that we discussed about the moratorium to try and clear up some of the misunderstandings that remain around the legislation.
	Ability of a Name to challenge insurance claims
	You explained that there is significant concern that the process of applying for a Lloyd's Market Reorganisation Order (LMRO) and in particular the moratorium in regulation 8 may prevent Names challenging the validity of insurance claims against them.
	I am happy to confirm that this is not the case. First, recognising that there are potential claims which call into question the ability of the Lloyd's market to continue to meet its regulatory solvency requirements, so that an application for an LMRO should be made, does not imply that the legal validity of those claims has been accepted. That would remain a matter for the members, their agents and other advisers in respect of each insurance contract.
	Second, the moratorium means that no proceeding can be brought against a Name without the permission of the court. This is designed to protect the Names against opportunistic litigation by policyholders or others. It is also important to ensure order is maintained in dealing with multiple insolvencies or potential insolvencies within the market. It should be noted that the moratorium is worded in terms of "proceedings or other legal process". It is not in terms of the ability of a member to do particular things in litigation. Once the proceedings are allowed to go forward, that implies the whole proceedings, including the ability of the member to make the best case he can. It is not designed to and does not remove or fetter a Name's right or ability to defend an action against him that is allowed to proceed. Take for example the case where a policyholder alleges a Name owes him monies under an insurance policy and the policyholder seeks the permission of the court to commence proceedings against that Name to recover those monies. In the event that the court gives permission to the policyholder to commence litigation against a Name, it is the whole legal process of instituting and pursuing a claim in the court against an identified defendant that is allowed to go ahead—and that necessarily includes the rights of the defendant to defend himself. Any proceeding would then be conducted as if the LMRO did not apply to the litigant. This example extends to any litigation launched against a Name. It is worth reiterating that any moratorium only comes into effect on the making by a court of a Lloyd's Market Reorganisation Order and that any moratorium is not permanent.
	The moratorium allows for a "breathing space" in which the reorganisation controller can put together a plan for achievement of the objectives of the LMRO without the assets within the market being further depleted by litigation. That process does not involve the reorganisation controller making commitments to third parties which bind members as to their liability under a particular insurance contract.
	I should add, for clarity, the existence of a LMRO does not prevent a Name commencing or continuing proceedings against others (except those market participants and others specified in regulation 8(1) who would be covered by the moratorium).
	You mentioned in the meeting that we should consider setting up a process whereby Names are consulted about the need for an LMRO. It appears that this suggestion, at least in part, stemmed from a misunderstanding of the term "approved debt" which I deal with below and thus I hope it is clear that the need for an additional stage to the process in unnecessary. I should, however, make a few more general comments about the suggestion.
	In the circumstances in which the FSA or the Society would be thinking of applying for a LMRO there would be considerable uncertainty and market turmoil. The moratorium could be expected to facilitate examination of the provenance of particular claims and that examination would continue to be carried out by Managing Agents in the normal way. If questions arise as to whether a LMRO should be applied for, then it would be difficult for FSA in particular to carry out a formal consultation given the urgency of the issue. The moment that any sort of consultation of this sort was begun, one could expect a flurry of opportunistic litigation would begin because the existence of potential problems would be immediately apparent. The FSA would consider the Lloyd's returns and information similar to the Lloyd's returns as part of its ongoing supervision of the market to assess whether or not there was an issue with the solvency of Lloyd's. This would not involve an assessment of each individual's solvency and individual claims. The assessment of the resources in the market for solvency purposes would be judged by the funds in the market. The decision to make an application for an LMRO would not hang on the validity of one claim subject to proper reserving procedures.
	Ability of a Name to commence or continue legal proceedings
	You also expressed concern that the legislation would prevent Names from continuing to pursue an action against HM Treasury for its alleged failure to implement European Community obligations for the regulation of the Lloyd's market (in particular the current ongoing NACDE litigation, Frederick Thomas Poole and others v HM Treasury ("the Poole litigation")).
	It is, of course, not the intention of the Treasury to legislate to prevent NACDE or any other Names pursuing a claim against it. I can confirm that this legislation does not, of itself, prevent the Poole litigation, or any other litigation against us continuing. That is because regulation 8(1) applies in respect of actions against Members as opposed to actions by them. Indeed, I can confirm that as part of the early stages of this litigation, there is a court hearing for the Poole litigation on 4 November.
	On a general note, if, for whatever reason, a Name were unable to meet his liabilities, it may be that the appointment of a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy for that Name would be sought. If appointed, they would need to decide whether or not that Name should continue to pursue any litigation. This is the position regardless of whether or not an LMRO is made, in line with general insolvency law.
	Approved debt
	I understand that you are happy that a recent official letter on this subject addressed the concern, but I think it is worth answering the point again.
	There has been concern that regulation 8(4) (which talks about an "approved debt") means that Lloyd's can unilaterally determine whether or not a Name is liable to a policyholder and that any Name would have no opportunity to challenge such a decision.
	I can reassure you that this is not the case. Regulation 8(4) needs to be read in conjunction with regulation 8(12) that defines the terms used in regulation 8(4). Regulation 8(4), when so read, says a security granted over some of the assets of a Name held at Lloyd's for the purposes of complying with the regulatory requirements of overseas regulators can be enforced. This regulation is therefore only relevant to Names currently writing business in the market and does not include any Names that are not currently underwriting. It is necessary to ensure that overseas regulators are satisfied with the robustness of the situs arrangements they have established as part of the requirement for Lloyd's Names to have permission to write insurance in their jurisdiction.
	Nothing in these regulations prevents an individual seeking to be excluded from the LMRO by application to the Court. An affected market participant could seek to have the order set aside, but to be successful would have to convince the court that the objectives identified in regulation 5 would be met better by stopping the process, rather than by allowing the process of examination and planning that the Regulations provide for to proceed. Other market participants may have different views on the desirability of halting the process and ending the moratorium.
	Duration of LMRO
	You noted that the duration of any LMRO is not specified in the legislation.
	This is correct. We considered whether we should specify the duration of any LMRO in the legislation and decided not to for a number of reasons including:
	It is not possible to predict with any degree of confidence the precise events that may give rise to the need for an LMRO and thus the precise situation in which it needs to operate. We therefore cannot be clear whether any LMRO would need to be in place for 12 months or longer (or conceivably a shorter period). Given this, we did not want to put an arbitrary figure in the legislation, which may fetter the court's handling of the matter and mislead as to the likely duration of the matter.
	We could be comfortable to have a provision without specific duration because the reorganisation controller is an officer of the court and the whole process would be overseen by the courts. Any matter would be before the courts on a continuing basis and the courts would be best placed to consider on each occasion whether or not the LMRO should remain in force. Indeed the court has to be satisfied in the first place that any regulatory solvency requirement is not or may not be met and that the objectives of the LMRO in dealing with such a situation are likely to be achieved. For the duration that this is the view taken by the Court, and only for as long as this is the case, will the LMRO remain in force.
	I hope that this letter addresses your concerns. Please let me know if there is any further clarification I can provide on these regulations or the directive more generally.
	Letter from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin of Roding, dated 9 November 2005
	Further to my letter of 31 October 2005, I also agreed to write about other issues you raised about the Regulations when we met.
	Scope of Directive
	You explained that some do not believe that Equitas and Equitas reinsured Names are within the scope of the Directive and asked for my comments on this issue.
	It is correct that the Directive does not apply directly to Equitas because it is a reinsurer. As a reinsurer, in the event that Equitas were to fail, outstanding liabilities under insurance contracts reinsured by it would revert to the Names it reinsured. Such Names would be insurers for the purpose of the Directive. They remain liable ultimately if those with whom the contracts were reinsured are unable to meet claims under them and, as Names are part of the association of underwriters known as Lloyd's. It was therefore necessary to find a way of implementing the Directive that applied certain provisions of it to those Names. Failure to do so would have been a failure to implement the Directive and in particular a failure to the effect required as to priority of insurance claims under Article 10 of the Directive.
	As part of the association of underwriters known as Lloyd's, we believed it was appropriate to treat them as insurers for the purposes of insolvency only in the event that the requirements of the Directive were triggered for the association. This means that priority is given to insurance creditors over other unsecured creditors in relation to their unencumbered assets only in circumstances when Equitas is unable to meet its liabilities AND the solvency of the market is in doubt. We have, however, given them the initial benefit of the moratorium once an LMRO is made in the event that the solvency of the market is in doubt.
	Mutualisation
	You expressed concern that any LMRO would inevitably have to operate on the basis that Equitas mutualisation would extend to the current and future liabilities of names without redress.
	An LMRO would not operate to mutualise losses. It is suggested that Equitas has mutualised the losses it has reinsured. That may be the case. However, it is not a matter for the Treasury to interfere with commercial arrangements. That is one of the reasons why the regulations overlay the existing legal position rather than altering it.
	Payments to the Central Fund
	You expressed concern about current and past unlimited liability Names being required to make good a central fund shortfall.
	It is correct that there may be circumstances where Names currently underwriting insurance may be asked to contribute further sums to the New Central Fund to enable the market to continue to write business. It will then be a matter for Names to decide if they want to be able to continue to write business in a Lloyd's market. However, it is not possible for pre 1996 Names to be required to contribute to the New Central Fund. This is solely a matter for them. The LMRO does nothing to change this.

North East Region: Road and Rail Projects

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What road and rail transport projects are planned for the North East region.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Secretary of State for Transport plans and funds through his department and its agencies a variety of capital and revenue projects. He also funds projects which are planned by others, particularly local authorities, through the local transport plan (LTP) process and revenue support grant allocations. The LTP system provides capital funding to local authorities to cover expenditure on major schemes (those costing more than £5 million) and minor improvement works and maintenance by way of block allocations.
	In terms of local authority and Highways Agency capital transport infrastructure improvement projects costing more than £5 million, it should be noted that, in July 2005, regions were provided with indicative annual capital allocations to 2015–16 for transport (excluding rail funding) in order that they could prioritise schemes and provide advice to the Secretary of State in January 2006. Highways Agency trunk road projects in the North East included in this process are all bar those on the Al in the region to its junction with the A19 from the south.
	There are a number of major schemes in the region which have recently been completed or are currently under construction:
	A167 Chilton Bypass, Durham
	South Stockton Link Road
	Stephenson Link, North Tyneside
	Scotswood Road Dualling, Newcastle
	Eldon Square bus station
	Sunderland Southern radial route
	Durham Park and Ride
	There are currently two major schemes in the region which are planned to commence construction in early 2006:
	A66 Long Newton Junction Improvement, Stockton
	Pegswood Bypass, Northumberland
	In addition, the department is involved with its regional partners in the planning or funding of the following major projects. Progress and timing for these schemes will be subject to regional advice, the future availability of finance and individual projects representing value for money:
	North Middlesbrough Accessibility Improvement Scheme
	Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor Wheatley Hill to Bowburn, Durham
	Sunderland Central Route
	Northern Gateway, North Tyneside
	A1 Adderstone to Belford dualling, Northumberland
	A1 Morpeth to Felton Dualling, Northumberland
	A19 Seaton Burn Junction Improvement
	North Tyneside A19 Testos Junction Improvement, South Tyneside
	A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass
	In addition to the above, there are further schemes which are identified in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy recently submitted to Ministers and which are emerging through local transport plans and the ongoing development of the trunk road and rail networks, which will be considered in due course but which have no degree of funding commitment at this stage.

Northern Ireland Compensation Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each year since 1998, how much compensation has been paid to civilians in South Armagh as a reslt of security forces' alleged activities in the area.

Lord Rooker: The Compensation Agency has operational responsibility for administration of the statutory compensation scheme under the Terrorism Act 2000. From 1998 to the present time the agency has paid approximately £7.5 million in relation to claims identified as originating from the South Armagh area.
	The following table shows the amounts paid annually from 1998 to present.
	
		
			 Finanical year Amount of compensation paid £ 
			 1997–98 34,911.00 
			 1998–99 1,016,284.75 
			 1999–2000 1,411,629.70 
			 2000–01 1,941,691.80 
			 2001–02 823,655.40 
			 2002–03 1,757,681.92 
			 2003–04 395,208.43 
			 2004–05 19,397.50 
			 2005–06 325.00 
			 Total 7,400,785.50 
		
	
	The following figures come from Directorate for Safety and Claims who do not record Northern Ireland claims by area. From 1 January 1998 to date the Claims Public Liability Group paid compensation and costs to Northern Ireland claimants as follows.
	
		
			 Calendar Year Amount 
			 1998 £289,479.04 
			 1999 £290,895.78 
			 2000 £356,960.12 
			 2001 £81,374.86 
			 2002 £136,384.02 
			 2003 £23,625.00 
			 2004 £9,950.00 
			 2005 £542,329.87*(to date) 
		
	
	These claims will have been received from members of the public who have had a dispute with members of the Armed Forces while in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and formerly the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The majority of claims will be for alleged assault, harassment or wrongful arrest, quite often at vehicle check points.
	*Note that at least 80 per cent of the total to date for 2005 covers one claim.

Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many staff, including seconded personnel, were employed, and at what grade or rank, by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman's Office on 1 April 2005; and what was the religious and gender balance of all staff at each grade or rank.

Lord Rooker: The Police Ombudsman has advised that as at 1 April 2005 the number of staff employed by her office including seconded police officers from England and Wales was 118. There are also a further three secondments from Northern Ireland Civil Service bodies. The office operates the Northern Ireland Office grading structure and the breakdown of staff is 19 at grade D, 29 at grade C, 58 at grade B, nine at grade A and three at Senior Civil Service grades.
	The last statutory return to the Equality Commission on 1 January 2005 showed that the Ombudsman's office employed 62 per cent male and 38 per cent female of which 47 per cent were recorded as Protestant, 39 per cent Catholic and others 14 per cent. A further subdivision of staff into gender and perceived religious affiliation by grade is not included as the small numbers involved in such a breakdown could identify individuals.

Northern Ireland: Artigarvan Primary School

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much funding is available for improvements to Artigarvan Primary School in County Tyrone in (a) 2005, and (b) 2006.

Lord Rooker: £16,000 is available for the 2005–06 financial year. It is not yet possible to say what funding is available for 2006–07.

Northern Ireland: Definition of Victim

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With regard to the civil unrest in Northern Ireland since 1969, what is their definition of a victim.

Lord Rooker: A definition of victim was set out in Reshape, Rebuild, Achieve, the victims' strategy endorsed by the then Northern Ireland Executive and launched in April 2002, and defines the term "victim" as meaning:
	"The surviving physically and psychologically injured of violent, conflict related incidents and those close relatives or partners who care for them, along with those close relatives or partners who mourn their dead."
	In the consultation on the next phase of policy relating to services for victims and survivors it was proposed that the existing definition is retained. That consultation ended on 30 June 2005 and Ministers are considering the responses.

Northern Ireland: Electricity Costs

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimate the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy has made of the extra cost that Northern Ireland's electricity consumers are likely to have paid compared with United Kingdom consumers by the end of the decade; and how much that estimate is likely to be per household.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation estimates that, in the period from privatisation of the electricity supply industry in 1992 until the end of this decade, Northern Ireland consumers will have paid around £1 billion more for their electricity than their counterparts in the rest of the United Kingdom; and that of this total each household will have paid, on average, approximately £615 which equates to £34.17 per annum.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether parliamentary approval was given to the funding for the festivals in West Belfast, New Lodge and Ardoyne in 2003; 2004; and 2005; if so, when and how such approval was given; and why similar funding was not provided for the Ulster-Scots Agency in 2004 and 2005.

Lord Rooker: Resources made available by DCAL and DSD to fund festivals are part of the departments' annual budgets approved by Parliament in the annual budget order. The Ulster-Scots Agency is not a festival.

Northern Ireland: NDPB Report

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to update the Northern Ireland Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies 1998 report which was published on 19 May 1999 and is currently displayed on the Internet.

Lord Rooker: There are no plans to update these particular publications. Up-to-date information on all Northern Ireland sponsored non-departmental public bodies, including advisory and tribunal, can be found on an online searchable database, accessible through the Cabinet Office website at www.civilservice.gov.uk/the–future–of–the–civil–service/agencies–and–public–bodies/index.asp.

Northern Ireland: PEACE II Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much funding has been provided by the European Union PEACE II programme to (a) victims' groups, and (b) ex-prisoners' groups; what were the groups; how much each group received; and for what purposes.

Lord Rooker: The total amount of PEACE II funding allocated to groups which assisted (a) victims is £10,924,161, and (b) ex-prisoners is £7,072,324. Details of the projects funded have been placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland: Per Capita Income

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current per capita income in Northern Ireland compared with that in (a) England; (b) Scotland; and (c) Wales.

Lord Rooker: The most recent estimates of gross disposable household income (GDHI) per capita are as follows.
	
		
			 Gross Disposable Household Income 2003 £ per head 
			 Northern Ireland 10,809 
			 England 12,952 
			 Scotland 11,753 
			 Wales 11,137 
		
	
	Source: Office for National Statistics

Northern Ireland: Post-Primary Education

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Education has appointed a strategic advisory group to provide advice on new arrangements for post-primary education; if so, when the group was appointed; what are its terms of reference; who are its members; and what are the relevant qualifications of each member.

Lord Rooker: The first meeting of the strategic advisory group took place in June 2004. The group provides advice at a strategic level to the Department of Education on the implementation of the new arrangements for post-primary education and related matters. Key educational interests were each invited to nominate persons holding senior positions who have detailed knowledge and experience across a wide range of educational issues, and with extensive experience of strategic thinking and working with other organisations on strategic matters. I have arranged for the full terms of reference of the group, its membership and the organisations represented, to be placed the in Library.

Northern Ireland: Post-Primary Education

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Education has appointed a project management group to determine curricular arrangements for post-primary education; when the group was appointed; what are its terms of reference; who are its members; and what are the relevant qualifications of each member.

Lord Rooker: The Government have not appointed such a group. In June 2004, the Government accepted proposals from the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) for revised primary and post-primary curriculum arrangements. Officers of CCEA and the education and library boards have jointly set up an informal partnership management board (PMB) to plan and co-ordinate the implementation of the revised curriculum.

Northern Ireland: Post-Primary Reform

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 June (WA 45), how, in respect of major post-primary reform, new arrangements will be determined locally to take account of local needs, wishes and circumstances, and collaboration organised so as to minimise disruption to the school day, given that there is to be no infrastructural audit or determination of costings in relation to transport and supervisory support.

Lord Rooker: The development of local arrangements to facilitate collaboration will be supported by school managing authorities, informed by guidance issued by the Department of Education.
	The department has allocated additional funds to the education and library boards, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, Comhairle na Gaelscola-ochta and the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education to enable them to support and facilitate schools in their respective sectors. This funding will be used to assist with the development of collaborative arrangements with neighbouring schools, FE colleges and other providers toprovide access to the entitlement framework, and generally to support schools in preparing for implementation of all aspects of the new post-primary arrangements. The department is in correspondence with the Governing Bodies Association regarding support for the voluntary grammar school sector.
	The department issued initial guidance on the entitlement framework on 15 June 2005, and further guidance on practical issues associated with implementation of the entitlement framework is scheduled for publication in December 2005.

Northern Ireland: St Mary's Teacher Training College

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the status of St Mary's Teacher Training College, Belfast, compared to that of Stranmillis Teacher Training College, Belfast.

Lord Rooker: St. Mary's University College is a college of education established under a charitable educational trust, managed by a board of governors appointed by the board of trustees.
	Stranmillis University College was established by the Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 as a college of education, managed by a governing body appointed by the Department for Employment and Learning.

Northern Ireland: Stranmillis Teacher Training College

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the status of Stranmillis Teacher Training College, Belfast; whether there are plans to change this; whether Protestant clergy have been removed from its board of governors; if so, why; and who is the current chairman of its board of governors.

Lord Rooker: The Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 incorporated Stranmillis University College as a legally independent higher education institution accountable to a corporate governing body. There are no plans to change the status of Stranmillis University College at present.
	Under the transitional arrangements within the instrument of government, provided for in the Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, the Church representatives will be appointed to the governing body until the end of their original term of appointment. Once this term of appointment expires, these positions will be filled by a public appointments process, using the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland (OCPA NI) guidelines.
	The Department for Employment and Learning is unable to reserve places on the new governing body for representatives of the three main Protestant Churches once the transitional arrangements are completed. The combined effect of Section 6 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Northern Ireland Act 2000 is that an Order in Council cannot contain a provision which discriminates against a class of persons on the grounds of religious belief or political opinion. Furthermore, Section 24 of the Northern Ireland Act means that no department has the power to make or approve any instrument which discriminates against a class of person on the grounds of religious belief.
	The current chairperson of the governing body of Stranmillis University College is Mr Stephen Costello, who was appointed by the Department for Employment and Learning, through a public appointments process.

Northern Ireland: Teaching of Spanish

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what way the teaching of Spanish is promoted in schools in Northern Ireland; whether there has been an increase in the number of pupils learning Spanish; and how many schools provide Spanish as a taught language.

Lord Rooker: Modern Languages is compulsory for all post-primary pupils and Spanish is one of the options schools can choose to offer. The figures available show that in 2004, 111 schools entered pupils for GCSE Spanish and in summer 2005 there were 3,294 entries for GCSE Spanish, an increase of 7 per cent on 2004.

Northern Ireland: Victims' Groups

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding has been given to victims' groups in Northern Ireland since 1998; what groups have received such funding; and how much they have received in each case.

Lord Rooker: Records show that funding detailed in the table below has been allocated to organisations involved in providing funding for victims between 10 April 1998 and including 31 March 2005. In addition to the amounts shown, victims' groups may also apply for funding from any programme or scheme, such as the District Council Community Relations Programme or European Union funding through the Local Strategy Partnerships, for which they can satisfy the relevant eligibility criteria.
	
		
			 Victims' Organisation Amount Allocated £ 
			 123 House 158,746 
			 Aisling Centre 131,486 
			 Alanna Consultancy 1,790 
			 An Crann 63,500 
			 Ardoyne Commemoration 14,900 
			 Armagh Voluntary Welfare Group 16,226 
			 Ashton Community Trust 1,912,513 
			 Association for Family Therapy NI 6,100 
			 Ballybone, Belfast 2,100 
			 Ballymoney District Partnership (Victims) 16,000 
			 Ballymurphy Centre 319,930 
			 Bannside Community Group 17,844 
			 Barnardo's 70,050 
			 Base 2 25,375 
			 Befriending and Counselling 4,397 
			 Belfast Cognitive Therapy Centre 56,215 
			 Breaking the Silence 4,998 
			 Community Action for Locally Managed Stress(CALMS) 575,762 
			 Centre for Creative Energy, Londonderry 5,180 
			 Claudy 12,027 
			 Co Tyrone Frontier Relief Fund 2,000 
			 Coleraine/Ballymoney UDR 118,060 
			 Colleague Support Group 3,100 
			 Columba Community 148,682 
			 Combat Stress 4,000 
			 Community Council 2,240 
			 Community Foundation for Northern Ireland 12,500 
			 Community Relations Council 38,357 
			 Conflict Trauma Resource Centre 84,277 
			 Contact Youth 84,129 
			 Conway Education Centre 2,500 
			 Cookstown Colleague Support 2,165 
			 Corpus Christi Services 461,277 
			 Corrymeela Community 7,500 
			 Cost of the Troubles Study 97,251 
			 CRUSE (Foyle) 35,000 
			 CRUSE Bereavement (NI) 74,915 
			 CRUSE Bereavement Care (Belfast) 36,227 
			 CRUSE (Causeway) 2,500 
			 Cumann Tar Abhaile 22,171 
			 Cunamh 491,298 
			 Dairy Farm Jobclub 111,394 
			 Democratic Dialogue 7,485 
			 Derry and Raphoe Action 61,000 
			 Derry City Council 2,500 
			 Derry Well Women 70,260 
			 Disabled Police Officers Association (DPOA) 180,610 
			 Divis Centre 1,005 
			 Eastern Health and Social Services Board Trauma Advisory Panel 158,567 
			 Families of the Displaced, Dispersed andDisappeared (FODDD) 120,384 
			 Families Achieving Change Together (FACT) 566,542 
			 Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) 743,329 
			 Families for Truth and Justice 800 
			 Family Trauma Centre 704,062 
			 Fermanagh College 69,600 
			 Fermanagh South Tyrone Terrorist VictimsAssociation 96,738 
			 Firinne 258,751 
			 Friends of WAVE 2,304 
			 Give Innocent Victims Equality (GIVE) 5,200 
			 Glencree LIVE Programme - The Restorick Group 750 
			 Greater Belfast Community Network 84,500 
			 Greater Twinbrook and Poleglass CommunityForum 10,000 
			 Healing Through Remembering 10,000 
			 Help and Advice with Victims Every Need(HAVEN) 143,931 
			 Holy Trinity 169,965 
			 Holywell Trust 16,329 
			 Homes United by Ruthless Terrorism (HURT) 351,029 
			 HOPE 500 
			 Innocence, Truth and Justice 980 
			 Institute for Counselling and PersonalDevelopment (ICPD) 596,173 
			 Interact 5,000 
			 Interchurch Group on Faith and Politics 600 
			 Irish Peace Institute 11,000 
			 Koram Centre 130,621 
			 Lenadoon Community Counselling Project 231,457 
			 Lifeline 14,000 
			 Lifespring Health and Healing 10,000 
			 Lifeways Psychotherapy and Counselling Centre 252,211 
			 Lisburn Prisoners Support Project 133,423 
			 Loughgall Truth and Justice Campaign 7,200 
			 Lower North Belfast Community Group 2,000 
			 Make Your Mark 57,838 
			 Mid Ulster Survivors Trust 1,000 
			 Mourne Action for Survivors of Terrorism (MAST) 147,641 
			 New Life Counselling Service 317,006 
			 Nexus Institute 22,392 
			 NI Association for Mental Health 46,702 
			 NI Memorial Fund 6,926,578 
			 NI Music Therapy Trust 29,284 
			 NI Prison Service 600 
			 NICRA 1,000 
			 North and West Belfast Trust 20,000 
			 Northern Health and Social Services BoardTrauma Advisory Panel 155,158 
			 NI Centre for Trauma and Transformation(NICTT) 1,500,000 
			 NOVA 345,598 
			 Omagh Independent Advice Services 31,657 
			 Omagh Support and Self Help Group 101,575 
			 Passionist Youth 94,800 
			 Pat Finucane Centre 17,863 
			 Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust 20,000 
			 Positive Action 91,328 
			 Prison Service Trust 64,160 
			 RAFT-Restorative Action Following the Troubles 32,659 
			 Regimental Association UDR 69,644 
			 Relatives For Justice 820,416 
			 Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) 138,547 
			 Rural Network 2,000 
			 Seeds of Hope 2,500 
			 Shankill Stress and Trauma Group 501,578 
			 Sligo Presbyterian 7,500 
			 SOLAS Victim Support 8,505 
			 South Down Action for Healing Wounds(SDAHW) 216,006 
			 South East Fermanagh Foundation 149,199 
			 South Tyrone Empowerment Programme 9,995 
			 South West Community Victims 10,000 
			 South/North Armagh Victims EncouragingRecognition (SAVER/NAVER) 611,975 
			 Southern Health and Social Services Board TraumaAdvisory Panel 179,149 
			 Sperrin Lakeland Trust 70,649 
			 Springhill Community House 188,175 
			 Springvale Training 106,262 
			 Stepping Stone, Craigavon 55,000 
			 Stewartstown and District Support Group 2,960 
			 Strabane Befriending and Counselling Association 311,609 
			 Streetbeat Youth Project 137,896 
			 Sub Committee for Victims 216,121 
			 Support, Training, Education, Employment,Research (STEER) Mental Health 149,119 
			 Survivors of Trauma 674,879 
			 Tar Anall 113,300 
			 Tar Isteach 190,993 
			 Tara Counselling and Personal DevelopmentCompany Ltd 417,950 
			 The Bloody Sunday Trust 84,765 
			 The Church's Ministry of Healing 18,000 
			 The Cross Group 11,395 
			 The Ely Centre 283,007 
			 The Royal British Legion (Upperlands Branch) 2,000 
			 The Samaritans, Belfast 8,000 
			 The Samaritans, Coleraine 7,000 
			 The Wider Circle 176,314 
			 Threshold 3,000 
			 Towards Healing and Understanding 5,500 
			 United Services Club 81,073 
			 Victims Support (NI) 52,000 
			 Victims and Survivors Trust (VAST) 404,994 
			 VOICE 40,382 
			 Voices Women's Group 17,054 
			 WAVE Belfast * 2,990,066 
			 WAVE Armagh * 85,684 
			 WAVE Ballymoney * 62,127 
			 WAVE Omagh * 76,122 
			 WAVE Londonderry * 96,936 
			 West Belfast Cross Community Partnership 48,700 
			 West Tyrone Voice (WTV) 590,535 
			 Western Enterprise Social Legal and EducationalVictims Trust 3,950 
			 Western Health and Social Services Board TraumaAdvisory Panel 197,852 
			 Women Together 11,641 
			 Yes! 5,000 
			 Total 31,237,591 
		
	
	* WAVE Trauma Centre has a network of five branches around Northern Ireland. Major amounts of funding, such as Peace II (£1.39 million) cannot be accurately allocated among the individual locations and have been credited to the Belfast office.
	Note: The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (formerly NIVT) also received £1,123,324 through the EU Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace I) which supported victims of violence. The foundation allocated these funds in support of a number of projects for both ex-offenders and victims. Persons from these groups could benefit from the same project and it is not possible to disaggregate the assistance between the two groups.

Prisoners: Voting Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish their proposals to give prisoners the right to vote in parliamentary elections in accordance with their Convention rights as declared by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Government are giving urgent consideration to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Hirst v The United Kingdom and will bring forward proposals in due course.

Rail Safety and Standards Board: Funding

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the sources of the £44 million funding of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) in 2004; what funding is envisaged for the RSSB in future years; and how it is to be allocated within the railway industry.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Income for the period 2004–05 represents amounts received in funding from the SRA via Network Rail, plus amounts received from third parties for goods and services supplied. Funding for RSSB in future years is expected to be principally derived from government and direct funding from the membership of RSSB.

Royal Irish Regiment: Home Service Battalions

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the average hours per week on (a) operational duty, and (b) training carried out by full-time soldiers from each of the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment between 1 July and 30 September in the years 2002 to 2005.

Lord Drayson: I regret that we do not hold information on the activity of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service battalions in the form requested by the noble Lord.

Scotland: Licensing Hours

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have for their assertion that longer opening hours for licensed premises in Scotland have led to a reduction in crime and disorder.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Several reports have been published covering the liberalisation of licensing hours in Scotland in 1976. Work done by the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys in 1986 examined the impact of the changes on alcohol consumption between 1976 and 1984. This concluded that the extension to licensing hours tended to be seen as having led to more sensible drinking.
	The Time to Call Time report published by the Adam Smith Institute in 1986 included evidence that the 1976 reforms in Scotland had been followed either by reductions in certain criminal offences or increases that were below those experienced in England and Wales.
	The Research and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office conducted a comprehensive review in the late 1990s of all research into alcohol and crime over a period of 20 years. Its 1999 report, "Alcohol and Crime: Taking Stock", concluded that the Scottish experience of more liberal drinking hours appeared to have worked well, changing the binge drinking culture to a slower drinking, more female-friendly environment. The independent Nicholson committee, which looked at experience in Scotland and elsewhere, considered that the majority of people in Scotland drink sensibly and responsibly and that the licensing system should be as free from restrictions as possible.
	The Government recognise that a number of factors contribute to crime and disorder and that the relaxation of licensing hours on its own will not in itself lead to a reduction in crime and disorder. We do, however, believe that the experience of Scotland and elsewhere indicates that flexible opening can be part of the solution. That is why the Government are pursuing licensing reform as one part of their wider programme to tackle alcohol-related harm.

Service Prosecutions

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the circumstances that led to the referral to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration of possible charges against Captain Field, Corporal Manley, Lance Corporal Rayner, Trooper Armstrong and Trooper Thornton, all of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment; and who requested and authorised such referral.

Lord Goldsmith: I am the responsible Minister for both the Service Prosecuting Authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service. Where an offence alleged to have been committed by servicemen is trialable in England and Wales in either the court martial or the civilian courts, it is ultimately my decision which prosecutor will consider the allegation. The vast majority of cases concerning servicemen will be dealt with by the service prosecuting authorities. However, in exceptional cases the CPS may deal with the allegation.
	I considered the matter and with the agreement of APA and CPS, I decided that the case should be referred to the CPS because in the circumstances of the case, while there is no suggestion that the court martial would not deal with it impartially, justice would be seen to be done by ventilating the issues in the civilian courts.

Somalia

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Triesman on 19 October (WA 133), whether in view of reports of the hijacking of an oil tanker and a ship carrying food to Somalia on 22 to 23 October, and of a Maltese ship on 20 October, they will reconsider their view that the problem of piracy off the Somali coast can be brought under control only after the return of stability and good governance in Somalia.

Lord Triesman: No. Our view remains that the only long-term solution to piracy in Somali waters is a return to peace and good governance in Somalia.

Somalia

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Security Council has received any reports from the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Somalia on his attempts to bring the Mogadishu and Jowhar factions of the transitional government together; and what further steps they consider might be taken by the Security Council, in the absence of any prospect of the factions coming together.

Lord Triesman: The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Somalia, Francois Fall, reports to the Secretary-General, who last reported on the situation in Somalia to the Security Council on 11 October. The Security Council considered this report on 9 November.
	We continue to urge members of the Transitional Federal Government and Parliament in Jowhar and Mogadishu to reconcile their differences and create the conditions for effective, inclusive government, supervised by the Transitional Federal Parliament.

Sudan: Displaced and Returning People

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Through which non-governmental organisations based in (a) the Sudan, and (b) the United Kingdom they are currently assisting the displaced and the returnees in southern Sudan; and what form this assistance takes.

Baroness Amos: The UK does not currently directly fund any Sudanese non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that assist displaced or returning people in southern Sudan. This year, however, the UK has provided the UN with £45 million early and flexible funding to address the most critical and under-resourced areas across Sudan. £23 million of this has gone to fund UN humanitarian work in southern Sudan. The UN uses this funding in part to sub-contract Sudanese NGOs as implementing partners.
	The UK also funds a number of international NGOs directly in southern Sudan. This year we are providing £7 million directly to international NGOs working in water and sanitation (Oxfam), nutrition (World Vision, Concern, Action Centre la Faim and GOAL) and health (Oxfam, Medecins Sans Frontieres, International Medical Corps, Merlin and GOAL). Of these NGOs, only Merlin and Oxfam are headquartered in the UK.

Wales: Child Poverty

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which 10 local authority areas in Wales have the highest number of minors under the poverty level.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of peoples' lives, including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment and not just low income. Although information is not available at sub-regional level, the Family Resources Survey estimates that the number of children below 16 years living in household in Wales with less than 60 per cent of relative median household income, before housing costs, fell from an average of 170,000 in the three-year period 1996–97 to 1998–99 to an average of 130,000 in the three-year period 2001–02 to 2003–04.

Wales: Crime and Juvenile Crime Rates

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which 10 local authority areas in Wales have the highest (a) crime rate; and (b) juvenile crime rate.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The available information relates to crime rates in each of the Welsh Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) and is given in the following table. Juvenile crime rates are not collected centrally.
	
		Community Safety Partnerships in Wales with the highest crime rates in 2004–05
		
			 CSP Name Offences per 1000 population 
			 Newport 141 
			 Cardiff 138 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 113 
			 Swansea 108 
			 Torfaen 99 
			 Blaenau Gwent 97 
			 Wrexham 95 
			 Caerphilly 94 
			 Denbighshire 91 
			 Conwy 89 
		
	
	Note:
	Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and are broadly local authority areas. They include representatives from police, health, probation and other, local agencies and provide strategies for reducing crime in the area. In Wales, the 22 CDRPs have changed to Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) to reflect their new identity subsequent to merging with Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the number of former members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service now employed by Waterways Ireland is 90 per cent less than when the organisation was created, when the number of former members of the Irish Civil Service employed is only 20 per cent less.

Lord Rooker: Seventeen Northern Ireland civil servants were initially seconded to Waterways Ireland and two of those are now employed by the organisation. The reasons for transferring of services are a matter for the individuals concerned.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the qualifications required for the appointment of the head of marketing administration in Waterways Ireland; and why was the position not advertised.

Lord Rooker: The qualifications required for the post of head of administration in the Marketing and Communications Division in Waterways Ireland are either a degree or equivalent with a minimum of five years relevant experience or a minimum of 10 years' experience in an administrative role, where at least five years of which has involved staff management responsibilities, in a commercial, voluntary or public sector environment. The person appointed to the post met these criteria. The appointment of the individual concerned to the post is a matter for the chief executive.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why Waterways Ireland has under-spent its budget in every year since its creation; and why the Northern Ireland Office did not use the funding in other areas of cross-border activity.

Lord Rooker: The primary reason for the under-spending at Waterways Ireland has been the protracted delay in the project to provide a new purpose-built headquarters for the body, in Enniskillen. It has not been possible to reallocate the funding as the same immediate financial requirement would have arisen at any time during the intervening period, had work commenced. As the project is now planned to commence in 2006, the funding remains essential to ensure the successful completion of the new headquarters. Other reasons for under-spending are delayed recruitment of staff to the body and delays in the planning process.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In how many years since its creation Waterways Ireland has under-spent its budget; and, for each year in which Waterways Ireland was under-spent, whether they will show how the under-spend was broken down into capital, administration and other costs; and give the main reasons for the under-spends.

Lord Rooker: Waterways Ireland has under-spent its budget in five years. The under-spends were as follows.
	
		
			 Year Capital Administration and Other Costs 
			  000's 000's 
			 2000 IR£834 IR£1,380 
			 2001 IR£1,492 IR£5,617 
			 2002 €7,635 €1,463 
			 2003 €6,336 €3,304 
			 2004 €11,149 €1,122 
		
	
	The main reason for under-spend of capital budget allocations is delay on buildings projects, notably the new Waterways Ireland headquarters in Enniskillen and additional capital projects in the Republic of Ireland which have been subject to planning delays. The capital under-spending is not cumulative. Under-spend on administration and other costs is due to the effect on payroll costs of delays in staff recruitment.